Hawthorn Woods lands state golf championship
Hawthorn Woods will host Illinois' most prestigious golf tournament this month - a first for the small western Lake County town of 7,745 people.
The 59th Illinois Professional Golfers' Association Open Championship takes place July 28 through 30 at Hawthorn Woods Country Club's Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.
Roughly 156 top professional and amateur golfers from Illinois will compete in the 54-hole championship tournament to capture the state title.
It's the first major tournament hosted by the Hawthorn Woods Country Club, which opened in 2006.
"The competition for locating the Illinois PGA tournament every year is keen," said Mayor Keith Hunt. "I think it's exciting for such a young course to have the honor of hosting that kind of event."
The tournament is returning to Lake County after 18 years. It was hosted by The Glen Club in Glenview the past six years, and before that, two years by the Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles.
Historically held the first week in August, the championship dates and venue were changed this year due to conflicts with United States Golf Association and PGA tournaments the same week, said Bill Ibrahim, Illinois PGA director of operations.
"We think it's going to be a great change," Ibrahim said. "It's a championship golf course. It's really going to showcase the great facilities that they have there."
Participants include eight past champions, such as defending champion Mike Small, University of Illinois men's head golf coach who won the last three Illinois Opens and four overall, and Curtis Malm of Naperville, the last amateur to win the Open in 2000.
Luring the tournament was a major coup for Hawthorn Woods Country Club, which is owned and operated by Northbrook-based KemperSports.
"It's a huge deal being that we are only in our second full season, since we opened in 2006, to land a major championship of this magnitude," said Eric Aldrich, the club's head golf pro. "Not too many people know about Hawthorn Woods. Hosting this event is really going to help put us on the map."
Though event organizers don't keep track of attendance, they are expecting a large contingent of players' family and friends, and some spectators.
"It's going to draw a lot of interest up north," Ibrahim said. "We expect a good turnout. It's free for the public to come and watch."
Area hotels, eateries and other businesses will benefit from the patronage of participants and their families, he said.
"All of our programming is designed around (families). An event like this, where you can get the entire family out, really fits in with what we're about, with our niche," Aldrich said.
Club officials are seeking 50 volunteers a day to help with the three-day event. Volunteering is open to all ages. For more information, e-mail ealdrich@kempersports.com.